January
2011 marks a new era for the Scientology religion in Australia with the
opening of its new Melbourne Church.
Thousands of Scientologists, dignitaries and guests from across the
nation celebrated a milestone—the opening of the first Ideal
Scientology Church in Australia.
Auntie Joy Murphy Wandin, senior elder of the Wurundjeri people, opened
the dedication with the traditional “Welcome to
Country” ceremony, welcoming Scientologists to the lands of
her ancestors.
Scientologist, Melbourne native and award-winning singer and songwriter
Kate Ceberano performed a moving rendition of her original composition
“This Song is You,” written in honour of the
occasion and the heritage of the city and all that Australia holds dear.
In tribute to the significance of the occasion Mr. David Miscavige,
Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical
leader of the Scientology religion, travelled to Melbourne from the
United States to officiate at the dedication. He acknowledged
the long parade of accomplishments by Australian Scientologists that
culminated in the new Church.
“It is my honour to join you this evening and commemorate a
moment that will live on in history for a long time to come. Not that
you haven’t loomed large in history before, not that you
haven’t triumphed over great adversity in years gone by, not
that you didn’t stand firm for the dignity of Man, and not
that you didn’t indeed uphold the God-given rights of all
religions all over this world.
“But having triumphed today in the name of our religion, you
just flipped this planet all the way around so that Melbourne now sits
on top of the globe. And that’s what it means to build an
Ideal Org beneath the Southern Cross.”
Mr. Miscavige also spoke of Melbourne’s hallowed place in
Scientology history, noting that Founder L. Ron Hubbard himself came to
Melbourne in November 1959 to deliver a series of lectures to its
founding Scientology community. As Mr. Miscavige
explained: “Those November 1959 lectures marked a
turn in the path and a rise in the road, from which the whole panorama
of human potential came into focus."
"Whence, the highest levels of Scientology and the whole vista of
spiritual enlightenment and freedom."
“So you wonder where you stand in the history and legacy of
LRH and our religion as a whole? None of it would exist were
it not for what began right here—and that’s both
the heritage and legacy, which is indelibly woven through the brickwork
of your new Ideal Org of Melbourne.”
Acknowledging the Church for its many contributions to the community
were Melbourne Lord Mayor the Honourable Robert Doyle, Moonee Valley
City Councillor Paul Giuliano, Shadow Minister for Tourism and Major
Events, the Honourable Justin Madden, Sociologist Professor Gary Bouma
and former Indigenous Person of the Year Uncle Bob Randall.
Praising the Church’s active role in community life, Lord
Mayor Robert Doyle told those assembled: “Today marks an
historic occasion for Scientology. The building you see before you is
the first of its type in Australasia, and the re-birth of an historic
Melbourne building. This is a unique space. I hope benefits flow in
partnerships, community connection and goodwill. I invite you to
celebrate this opening in the heart of our exciting, welcoming and
diverse Melbourne.”
Moonee Valley City Councillor Paul Giuliano welcomed the congregation
to his metropolitan Melbourne community where the Church is located:
“I know that I speak for many when I say thank you so very
much for restoring this beloved landmark to its former glory.
I cannot think of a better custodian than the Church of
Scientology.”
The occasion was a reunion for teacher, football icon and Victoria
Shadow Minister Justin Madden, who attended the Catholic University
within the walls of what is now the new Scientology Church.
He commended the Church for its historic preservation as well as its
literacy and drug education initiatives:
“Unselfishly, you work to provide ways and means to uplift
our society. You have set the standard for the community with
your restoration of this building and with your social
programs—an example I will point to for others to
follow. Your new Church is as Melbourne as Melbourne
gets.”
Human rights activist Bob Randall, whose award-winning documentary,
Kanyini, exposed the plight of the Aboriginal “stolen
generations,” thanked the Church and its Scientology
Volunteer Ministers program for its commitment to the indigenous people
of Australia: “Scientology Volunteer Ministers have come to
my country and given us hope that we can deal with these problems and
we will make a difference in the near future. The Volunteer Ministers
I’ve met have become my friends. The fellowship between us
has been fun and I look forward to continuing that relationship to
continue on to the present into the future. On behalf of me and my
people, I thank you.”
Melbourne has long held importance for the Scientology religion. Within
months of L. Ron Hubbard authoring Dianetics: The Modern Science of
Mental Health in 1950, the first Dianetics group in Australia was
formed here and in 1955 the first Scientology Church in Australia
opened in this city.
Australia similarly long held a place near to L. Ron
Hubbard’s heart, beginning with his service “Down
Under” as a United States Naval Officer through the first
days of World War II. Principally stationed in Brisbane, but
also operating from Melbourne, then Lieutenant Hubbard was charged with
organising relief efforts for Allied troops trapped in the
Philippines. He also proudly served with Australian gunnery
units for the defence of Brisbane.
As Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard returned to Australia in 1959 to
deliver two historic lecture series: The Melbourne Congress and the 1st
Melbourne Advanced Clinical Course. Remembered today for his
delineation of the highest spans of the Scientology Bridge, Mr.
Hubbard’s Australian lectures will forever hold a cherished
place in the religion.
Today, the Melbourne Scientology Church is the first Ideal Church of
Scientology Organisation in Australia, realising Mr.
Hubbard’s vision for what Scientology can provide for its
congregation and community.
The Church now stands on the site of the 19th century estate of Robert
McCracken, leading businessman and founder of the legendary Essendon
Bombers football team. After the turn of the 20th century,
this building became the home of Mercy Teachers’ College,
later part of the Catholic University. The original name of the estate
is “Ailsa” for Ailsa Craig, an island off the west
coast of Scotland from where the McCracken family sailed more than 150
years ago.
Melbourne’s Public Information Centre offers more than 450
informational films illustrating Scientology beliefs, the life and
legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard, and the full array of
Church-sponsored social betterment and community outreach programs.
The Chapel seats hundreds, the library contains all Church Scripture.
Course rooms and counselling rooms accommodate Scientologists from
throughout Victoria. Seminar rooms, film rooms and Life
Improvement Course Rooms make effective solutions to the most pressing
challenges people face today easily available to Scientologists and
non-Scientologists alike. Workspaces for volunteers stand
open and ready for use by parishioners and the community.
Under the guidance of Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board
Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the
Scientology religion, 23 Ideal Churches have been dedicated and opened
since 2003, including those in world cultural capitals—The
National Church of South Africa in Johannesburg; the National Church of
Scientology of Spain in Madrid; the Church of Scientology of New York,
just off Times Square; the Church of Scientology of London, located in
the epicentre of the city; the Church of Scientology of Italy in Rome;
the Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C., just blocks from the
White House on “Church Row”; the National Church of
Scientology Mexico, in Mexico City; and the Church of Scientology of
Berlin, near the Brandenburg Gate. Another 60 Ideal Churches
are in design, planning or construction phases.
The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron
Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United
States in 1954 and has today expanded to more than 9,000 Churches,
Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 165
countries.
For more information:
Virginia Stewart: +61 403 345 272
Cyrus Brooks: +61 428 755 244
Church of Scientology International
6331 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: +1 323 960 3500
See the video of the opening for yourself.
Human
Rights DVD
Herin is the story of Human Rights of earth, a short film. Click
here more data .
